The 37th edition of the IACC Americas Connect conference, a leader in education and which celebrates innovation, took place this week (16 – 18) at Chubb Hotel & Conference Center and The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, and saw its strongest attendance in 10 years.The three-day conference, hosted by former White House Director of Events Laura Schwartz, included an array of educational sessions, panel discussions in the form of campfires, workshops, culinary tours and tastings as well as the annual Global Copper Skillet cooking competition. Each day key note speakers and industry leaders held sessions on topics such as innovation, leadership, IACC’s Meeting Room of the Future™ findings, food and beverage, social media, evolving technology and expanding networking circles globally. ​

The IACC-New York University Doris Sklar Scholarship was awarded to Camille Aké during the opening ceremony of IACC – Americas Connect 2018 in Philadelphia on April 16, 2018.

The scholarship, which was established 15 years ago in memory of longtime meeting professional Doris Sklar, is awarded to a deserving hospitality student of New York University that shows exceptional talent.

This year’s recipient Camille Aké, a senior at New York University, will graduate this May with a degree in Hotel and Tourism Management with a concentration in Event Management and a minor in Food Studies. Camille commented on the accolade: “It was a shock and an absolute honor to be awarded this scholarship,

especially in memory of someone. I’m very proud to have received the scholarship and have enjoyed my time at the annual conference in Philadelphia with the IACC community.”

Dianne Devitt, Adjunct Professor at New York University Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, who presented the Doris Sklar Scholarship Award commented: “On behalf of Dr. Lynn Minnaert and NYU Tisch Center, we’re so proud of Camille’s achievement. I was especially honored to present this award as I taught Camille her first course in Conference and Events Management; to see her come this far and achieve so much is extremely rewarding. We’re very, very pleased for her.

Camille was interning at Tumblr in the summer of 2017 when she received the news that she’d been awarded the Doris Sklar Scholarship, which meant she would receive a grant in the amount of $5,000, plus registration fees and all expenses for the IACC Annual Conference (Americas Connect 2018).

When asked what the future holds for the bright and ambitious student, Camille said: “Once I graduate next month, I’d like to secure a job before pursuing my MBA. Ultimately, I’d like to work in corporate hospitality and events for a large corporation such as Google or Goldman Sachs.”

The scholarship was first awarded in 1999, in memory of Doris Sklar who was active in IACC and a proponent of using IACC conference venues for meetings. Sklar was widely known and respected for her work with General Electric and as an independent consultant. In addition, she taught the meeting planning curriculum at NYU’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism.

More than 250 participants arrived at the Chubb Hotel and Conference Center, just outside Philadelphia, PA, for the 37th Annual IACC Connect Americas Conference this week. The city of Brotherly Love opened the event with the acapella stylings of The Orpheus Club of Philadelphia.

Laura Schwartz, former Director of White House events under the Clinton administration, brought zest and vibrancy to the state stating the three basics of great conferences and meetings: